Philly mayor asks high court to enter union fight

Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter has asked the state Supreme Court to take jurisdiction in the city's lawsuit over contract negotiations with its largest municipal union.

Last week, the city filed the suit in Common Pleas Court. It asks for permission to unilaterally impose what Nutter says is the last offer to District Council 33, a union representing thousands of blue collar municipal workers.

On Tuesday, Nutter filed a petition with the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, asking it to take immediate jurisdiction. Three of the city's four biggest unions have been without contracts since 2009.

District Council 33 has rejected a city proposal that includes reduced pensions and furlough authority. The city says it needs to make changes to the pension system and health care.